THE WILDWOODS – Springtime in the Wildwoods has finally arrived – and with the new season comes a full calendar of events throughout April and May that are sure to please anyone visiting the five-mile island.
Cheer Tech hosts two days of cheerleading competition at the Wildwoods Convention Center Sat., April 14 and Sun., April 15 during the ECC Shore Show Down and “Beast of the East” Cheerleading Competition – featuring the area’s top cheerleading teams competing for top honors.
Two Wildwoods’ classics will take place during the weekend of Fri., April 27 through Sun., April 29 – the 7th Annual Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce Sensational Spring Concert Weekend Festival and the Wildwoods Spring Bike Rally. First, the Sensational Spring Concert Weekend will be a blast from the past for three days featuring a Fri. night Dance Party hosted by “The Geater With The Heater” Jerry Blavat; a Sat. afternoon Street Fair with free live entertainment, food & merchandise vendors, fun games and contests; a classic car show; and Doo-Wop bus tours. Sat. night, it’s the ’60s era concert featuring Neil Sedaka and Lesley Gore. For more information and for concert ticket prices, call 609-729-4000 or visit www.gwcoc.com.
The Wildwoods Spring Bike Rally, also taking place Fri., April 27 through Sun., April 29, is expected to attract thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts to the five-mile island for a weekend of motorcycles, vendors and a special “Ride the Wave Motorcycle Run” on Sun., from Camden to the Wildwoods, to benefit the families of fallen public safety workers throughout the region.
Throughout the end of April and the beginning of May, the Wildwoods will host many of its annual, classic events. Indoor band units from eight different states head to the Wildwoods Convention Center Thur., May 3 through Sun., May 6 for a weekend of music and performing during the Wildwoods’ Tournament of Bands Indoor Championships. One weekend later, classic cars of all makes and models will fill the Wildwoods Boardwalk for four days of cruising and awards during the 20th Annual East Coast Boardwalk Nationals Car Show Thur., May 10 through Sun., May 13.
This Memorial Day Weekend in the Wildwoods will debut a new weekend-long event as thousands of active duty servicemen, women, veterans, first-responders and their families are invited to participate in the new Celebration of Heroes Festival Fri., May 25 through Sun., May 27. The weekend honors this country’s heroes with fun festivities including a military procession, family beach events, an outdoor food and music festival featuring free concerts by some of the Jersey Shore’s top bands and a Fallen Heroes recognition/remembrance ceremony. VIP treatment via special hotel rates, restaurant offerings and discounts to area attractions and retail stores for active military, veterans and first responders will be in effect the entire weekend. On Sun., March 27, a USO style variety show will be emceed by Entertainer Joe Piscopo. The Saturday Night Live alum will perform his orchestra-backed Sinatra musical show; and a number of other special artists and entertainers will perform as well. For additional information about the Celebration of Heroes, please visit www.WildwoodsNJ.com/heroes.
In additional to the Celebration of Heroes, the Wildwoods will continue its traditional Memorial Day Weekend events, including the kick-off the 2012 tourism season with the Wildwoods’ annual Unlocking of the Ocean Ceremony at 1:30 p.m. on Fri., May 25 behind the Wildwoods Convention Center, in conjunction with the start of the 27th Annual Wildwoods International Kite Festival immediately following the ceremony. The kite festival, which is the largest of its kind in North America, runs from Fri., May 25 through Mon., May 30, will feature kite flyers from around the world, kite building and flying classes, kite-flying events and competitions and giant 300’x150’ kites that can be seen from miles away.
Please see below for the list of the Wildwoods’ special events and dates for spring 2012:
April 14: ECC Cheer Shore Show Down
April 15: “Beast of the East” Cheerleading Competition
April 25: Business at the Beach Expo
April 27-28: Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce Sensational Spring Concert Weekend
April 27-29: Spring Bike Rally
May 3-6: Tournament of Bands Indoor Championships
May 9: Wildwood Restaurant Showcase
May 10-12: Tall Cedars Convention and Parade
May 10-13: 20th Annual East Coast Boardwalk Nationals Classic Car Show
May 13: Morey’s Piers Mother’s Day Celebration
May 17-19: Knights of Columbus Convention
May 18-20: Morey’s Piers Beach Jam Spring Fling
May 19: Pirates Day with Captain Kidd
May 19: South Jersey Walk-A-Thon
May 25: Unlocking of the Ocean Ceremony
May 25-27: Celebration of Heroes Festival
May 25-27: 27th Annual Wildwoods International Kite Festival
May 26-27: State Gymnastics Competition
May 26-27: Boardwalk SID Craft Show
May 27: Wildwood Crest Summer Kickoff Concert
May 28: Wildwood Memorial Day Service
May 28: Memorial Day Ceremony
May 30-June 1: Morey’s Piers Annual Education Extravaganza
*Please note that the information and dates above are subject to change. For the most current information on events visit http://www.wildwoodsnj.com/calendar.cfm
No matter what time of year you visit – whether it is spring, summer or fall – there’s always something happening in the Wildwoods!
For more information about the Wildwoods, visit www.WildwoodsNJ.com or call 800-992-9732.